Top 10 Johnny Depp Movies

The Rum Diary marks the second occasion on which Johnny Depp has played an alter-ego of the late, legendary Hunter S. Thompson, following his turn in Terry Gilliam’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. This time out, the Deppster stars as a suitably drunken journo embroiled in shady goings-on in Puerto Rico, and yes, in honour of the new movie’s release, here are the top 10 best Johnny Depp movies.

10. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

A milestone in the history of horror cinema, Wes Craven’s Nightmare in contrast plays but a minor role in the stellar career of Depp, he making a first film appearance in the supporting role of Heather Lagenkamp’s good-looking (but, in truth, slightly gormless) boyfriend, Glen, trying desperately to stay awake and thereby stave off the murderous attentions of Freddy Krueger.

9. Dead Man (1995)

While hardly the budget-busting, box-office pulverising blockbuster with which he has come to be associated in the 21st century, Dead Man stands in our list of emblem of all those lesser-seen movies Depp lent his talents to, particularly in his younger years (see also John Waters’ Cry-Baby and Emir Kusturica’s Arizona Dream). Mind you, this Jim Jarmusch-directed neo-western can still boast more than its fair share of star power, with the presence of Depp being supported by a Neil Young soundtrack and one of the last screen appearances from a genuine film icon – Robert Mitchum.

8. Sleepy Hollow (1995)

And so we arrive at the first appearance in our list of a link-up between Depp and his most frequent directorial collaborator, Tim Burton. On this occasion, the latter delivered one of his straightest, most obviously commercial movies, as he adapted Washington Irving’s classic tale of a small town menaced by a headless horseman. Depp plays it strait-laced as the investigating Ichabod Crane, while Christopher Walken looms ominously as the undead rider.

7. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)

Hard to recall that, for a long period, Hollywood seemed determined to try and exploit Depp solely for his appeal to teenage girls, rather than for his all-round acting excellence. Hence his good looks and then-floppy locks being shoved into a range of slightly dippy romance movies. But if Benny & Joon was too saccharine, then Gilbert Grape was much more dramatically involving, with Depp receiving strong backing from a 19-year-old Leonardo DiCaprio as the younger brother of the former’s angst-addled Gilbert.

6. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

He might not have reckoned much to his own vocal prowess but Depp earned himself a third Best Actor nomination in five years for his eponymous turn in this gory, gothic Burton-directed musical. Though the movie was a sizeable hit, he was again unable to convert that nomination into Oscar night gold, meaning that his wait for an Academy Award goes on… at least for now.

For me, Blow is pretty forgettable – I watched it a second time a few years later and had no idea what was coming next. Dead Man I haven’t seen. In Pirates he was pretty good at distracting me from how bored I was with the rest of the movie. Ed Wood, now there’s a film, and there’s a couple of superb performances, from him and Martin Landau.

Pirates number 1? Wow didn’t see that coming. A great character but not his best film. Ed Wood is a great number 2 but for me Edward Scissorhands is number 1. Johnny’s fragility is perfect for the character.

Excellent list. It’s hard to pick the best Johnny Depp movie. But, I think I’s have to go with the Donnie Brasco. Don’t think any other actor could have done justice to this movie, Johnny Depp is the best actor of his generation.